Vertical game board with apertures for receiving frictionally held playing pegs



Oct. 19, 1965 E. c. JUNGELS 3,212,782

VERTICAL GAME BOARD WITH APERTURES FOR RECEIVING FRICTIONALLY HELD PLAYING PEGS Filed Aug. 21. 1963 Z4 n38 f 4 E" 436 36/ o o o o o 32% /sz 0 o o o g o o 0 JNVENTOR. EDGAR C. JUMGELS dlttys.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,212,782 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 3 212 782 VERTICAL GAME BOARD WITH APERTURES FOR RECEIVING FRICTIONALLY HELD PLAYING PEGS Edgar C. .iungels, 4505 W. Montana St., Chicago, Ill. Filed Aug. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 303,501 Claims. (Cl. 273-130) The present invention relates broadly to game apparatus of the type having a pair of opposed playing faces engaged by pegs placed by the players as the game proceeds; and more particularly to game apparatus including resilient perforated playing faces, and playing pegs of different colors designed for frictional placement in the perforations, and being readily removable therefrom after a game, or portion thereof, has been completed.

The game apparatus, to be described in detail below, comprises as a minimum essential, a game board having a pair of faces, one of each being hidden from view of a player, there being at least two players, and further providing pegs which are readily placed in and removed from perforated playing faces of the game apparatus. As an addition to such apparatus, and in combination therewith, a scoring board having similar perforations can also receive scoring pegs. However, the scoring board portion of the game may be omitted for less expensive apparatus and scores can be kept on paper, if desired.

The game is particularly adapted to a type of playing wherein certain pegs in predetermined numbers are arranged in advance of the game by each player, or players, on opposite sides of the board. These initially placed pegs constitute hidden pegs that can be utilized strategically with placement of future pegs played during progress of the game to afford a player latitude of strategy in initial placement of pegs as well as during procedure of the game. Inasmuch as there are at least two players involved in each game, the strategy and play of each is pitted against tactics of the other player to lend interest to the game.

In peg type games of the general character to which this invention appertains, there are usually a large number of pegs. In the specific example set forth in detail below, and not in a limiting sense, there are thirty squares having three peg holes in each square thus comprising a total of ninety peg positions on each face of the board. In a given game, a substantial portion of such pegs may be used by each player and the total pegs placed in the faces of the board could amount to close to one hundred eighty pegs in a carefully played game. In addition to this, a scoring board might reqiure the use of additional pegs whereby the total used could be well over two hundred.

In order to readily remove pegs from the board after a game is played, the present invention provides structure whereby the pegs can be swept off the board by a simple movement of the fingers so that the pegs are removed readily and quickly. To facilitate this, the peg-in portions of the pegs are of identical physical construction and may preferably be made of plastic having a suitable coefficient of friction in cooperation with the playing surface having perforations of a suitable coefficient of friction whereby insertion of a peg into a perforation is readily accomplished and removal of the pegs therefrom is also readily accomplished.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a game board that is quickly and conveniently cleared of playing and/ or scoring pegs after completion of a game, or portion thereof.

It is a further object of the invention, in keeping with the preceding object, to construct a relatively sturdy but inexpensive game board and pegs, and a conveniently used scoring board for receiving pegs identical at least as to peg-in parts to those used in the playing of the game, thereby to provide only a minimum of parts, many of which are identical in shape and mode of fabrication.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be either obvious or pointed out in the following specification and claims read in view of the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view showing one side of two substantially identical sides of a preferred form of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a scoring board forming part of the apparatus of this invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing three differently colored pegs used in the apparatus and forming a part thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, and first to FIGS. 1 and 2, a base 10 is provided with a soft bottom 12, such as felt or the like, to prevent marring of table tops on which the game is played. The game, in playing position, occupies the position indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2; but when stored in a box may be rotated to lie flat to occupy minimum storage space as Well as minimum carton space for transit in channels of trade.

A frame is formed by identical top and bottom plates 14 and 15 which may be secured to substantially identical end plates 16, only one of which is shown at the lower lefthand corner of FIG. 1, to complete a rectangular peripheral securement for the board of the game apparatus. Each of the members 14, 15 and 16 are centrally grooved as indicated at 18, and, accordingly, all can be made of pre-grooved stock. A relatively rigid partition 20 lies in this groove and can be cemented therein by any suitable process to secure the frame members to gether. In addition, the frame members, at points of corner abutment, can further be cemented together if desired. The partition 20 is preferably opaque to prevent passage of light through the game board. A pair of playing faces 22 (decorated if desired), which are preferably physically identical, are secured to opposite sides of the frame all around their peripheries. The faces 22 contain perforations 24 adapted to frictionally fit ends of playing pegs to be described below. It is preferred that the faces 22 have a resilient characteristic for attaining a predetermined relatively low friction fit for ends of the playing pegs but further are sufficiently rigid to permit ready removal of the pegs by a brushing operation to be described hereinbelow.

The playing board portion of the apparatus is secured to the base 10 by cementing or as by suitable pegs 26, or the like. The felt 12, or other resilient material, can be cemented to the base. It is preferred, however, that the base 10 be of relatively heavy material such as steel or wood whereby its dimension need not be substantially greater in proportion to the balance of the apparatus than that indicated in FIG. 2. This dimension facilitates ready storage of same in a box, or the like, together with storage space for other parts of the game apparatus. The playing board portion of the device can be thinner than indicated in proportion to the base within the teachings of the invention. However, for greater mechanical strength while using relatilvely inexpensive materials, such as paper or plastics, or the like, the broader beam formed by the construction indicated is considered to be an advantage of the present structure over certain prior art constructions.

FIG. 3 shows a scoring-board 28 which may be larger than indicated, but preferably is no larger in either its horizontal or vertical dimensions than the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the playing board portion described above. This will facilitate ready storage of the playing board with the scoring board and pegs in a box of substantially minimum dimensions. For this reason, the scoring-board has a thickness, not shown, preferably slightly greater, than the hole engagement ends of the pegs to be described below. The scoring-board 28 has oppositely arranged and differently colored lower portions 30, each comprising half the width of the board and, in a horizontal row, indicate five, or quintuple steps, or achievements of the game to be described below. Next above are quadruple similar portions 32, each comprising a half of the scoring-board 28. Next above in sequence are scoring portions 36, 38 and 40 scoring triple achieve ments, double achievements, and a single achievement, respectively. A center line 42 is the dividing line between the halves of the scoring-board. Perforations 24 may be formed by the same machine for forming the perforations 24 in the playing board to receive identical pegs. In this example shown, the lefthand side of the scoringboard 28 is red and the righthand side is blue and, accordingly, red and blue scoring pegs 43 and 45 are used in the corresponding sides and display each players score. As shown, the board is displaying a single and a triple achievement for the red player; and a quadruple achievement for the blue player. The game to be described below may be com lete when one player has achieved predetermined patterns to be displayed on the scoreboard 28, or has filled the board with given achievements, or other combinations thereof, as prescribed by rules of different games.

FIG. 4 shows three pegs such as used in the game to be described below. It is to be understood that pegs of different colors, or of different characteristics, but in preferably rounded shapes to facilitate storage, can be used. As shown in FIG. 4, the peg 43 is lined on its end for the color red, the peg 44 is lined on its end for the color silver, and the peg 45 is lined on its end for the color blue. Since each peg is made identically, except for color, only one will be described in detail. The peg 44 has a relatively long, large diameter finger end, and a slightly tapered relatively short peg end 46, and both ends are rounded at 47 and 48. The rounded end 48 permits ready and quick insertion thereof into a hole 24- The tapered peg and permits pegs 44 to be removed easily as by brushing same off the board with the fingers. The lower left hand peg, FIG. 2, is shown in a position it would assume when being brushed off downwardly. However, the pegs 44 have a sufiicient friction fit in the holes 24 to prevent other than intentional brushing off. The

pegs have shoulders 50 forming a fulcrum point around which a peg can rotate upon the surface of the board, further facilitating removal by brushing or scraping movements.

The pegs are adapted to be brushed off into a receptacle such as a box that may be supplied with the game, not shown, having inner surfaces indicated by broken lines 52. A dotted peg 44a is shown as occupying a space between a wall 52 and a playing surface 24. With the wall horizontal the peg 44:: will tend to occupy a position rotated 90 degrees from the position shown. The rounded ends 47 and 48 of the peg facilitate such rotation upon dropping into a box. Further the rounded (not necessarily circular) cross-section of the finger end 44 of the peg facilitates spreading of same to a single layer of pegs in a box, or the like, for facile storage of the game. Shaking the box will further augment spreading of the pegs. The game board can then be placed into the box with a playing face overlying the pegs. The score-board 28 which is only a thick as a peg end 46 is long may overlie the board, and additional pegs surround same.

Particular games to be played form no part of the invention. However, games involving strategic placement of a predetermined number of hidden pegs on each side of the board and playing of additional pegs usually are played in preference to others.

In playing such a game, each player may be assigned a predetermined number of pegs of one color or another for placement on his side of the playing board without the knowledge of the specific placement by the other player. The pegs are placed in squares indicated at A-1, A2, etc., B1, B2, etc., by each player. Thereafter, the object of attainment of a given game might be to place other pegs to arrange a predetermined pattern prior to an opposing player reaching the same or another predetermined pattern, and the placement of succeeding pegs may be registered by calls of each player.

As predetermined patterns are attained, of which there may be several, scoring pegs of suitable colors may be placed in the scoring board 28. As indicated, a red peg 43 is in the scoring line 36 of the red player and another red peg in the line 49. The blue player has a blue peg 45 in the score line 32 on the right side of the scoreboard 23. The object of the game, in addition, could be to attain predetermined scoring peg patterns 43 and 45 on the score-board 28, by way of example only.

While I have shown and described in detail one preferred embodiment of game apparatus, obviously other advantages and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art. Accordingly, I wish not to be limited in the invention only to the specific form shown and described but by the scope of the following claims:

I claim:

1. Game apparatus comprising; playing boards fabricated from sheet material of predetermined resilience sufiicient to retain playing pegs, said playing boards being arranged to expose spaced apart opposite playing faces, each face being formed with multiple perforations through said sheet material for receiving and frictionally retaining playing pegs, a frame secured between the peripheral edges of said faces, said frame having inwardly facing grooves for securing said edges, an opaque medial partition secured in at least one of said grooves spaced between said faces, and a mass-providing base secured to the bottom of said frame; playing pegs, each having an enlarged relatively long generally rounded finger portion, a relatively small and short tapered perforation engaging portion extending from an end of said finger portion, said extending portion being of a length sulficient to engage edges of said perforations to retain said pegs therein fnictionally, and a face engaging shoulder adjacent the junction of the finger and engaging portions, said shoulder being spaced from sides of said extending portion sufficiently for providing a fulcrum for rotating said peg in a direction generally transverse to the axis thereof around points on said faces spaced from the perforations therein to overcome frictional engagement of said extending portions in said perforations to dis engage said pegs from said perforations upon application of lateral force upon said finger portions of said pegs; and a scoring board, a resilient face side of said scoring board having perforations physically identical to the perforations in said playing boards for receiving and retaining said extending portion of said pegs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said scoring-board having similar halves, said halves being colored differently to display at least two scores.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, said pegs being at least partly colored similarly to the coloring of said scoring board.

4. Game apparatus comprising; playing boards fabricated from sheet material of predetermined resilience sufiicient to retain playing pegs, said playing boards being arranged to expose spaced apart opposite playing faces, each face being formed with multiple perforations through said sheet material for receiving and frictionally retaining playing pegs, a frame secured between the peripheral edges of said faces, said frame having inwardly facing grooves for securing said edges, an opaque medial partition secured in at least one of said grooves spaced between said faces, and a mass-providing base secured to the bottom of said frame; and playing pegs, each having an enlarged relatively long generally rounded finger portion, a relatively small and short tapered perforation engaging portion extending from an end of said tion of lateral force upon said finger portions of said pegs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, said medial partition being connected to all sides of said frame for reinforcing finger portion, said extending portion being of a length 5 same.

suflicient to engage edges of said perforations to retain said pegs therein frictionally, and a face engaging shoulder adjacent the junction of the finger and engaging portions, said shoulder being spaced from sides of said extending portion sufliciently for providing a fulcrum for rotating said peg in a direction generally transverse to the axis thereof around points on said faces spaced from the perforations therein to overcome frictional engagement of said extending portions in said perforations to disengage said pegs from said perforations upon applica- 15 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. GAME APPARATUS COMPRISING; PLAYING BOARDS FABRICATED FROM SHEET MATERIAL OF PREDETERMINED RESILIENCE SUFFICIENT TO RETAIN PLAYING PEGS, SAID PLAYING BOARDS BEING ARRANGED TO EXPOSE SPACED APART OPPOSITE PLAYING FACES, EACH FACE BEING FORMED WITH MULTIPLE PERFORATIONS THROUGH SAID SHEET MATERIAL FOR RECEIVING AND FRICTIONALLY RETAINING PLAYING PEGS, A FRAME SECURED BETWEEN THE PERIPHERAL EDGES OF SIAD FACES, SAID FRAME HAVING INWARDLY FACING GROOVES FOR SECURING SAID EDGES, AN OPAQUE MEDIAL PARTITION SECURED IN AT LEAT ONE OF SAID GROOVES SPACED BETWEEN SAID FACES, AND A MASS-PROVIDING BASE SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID FRAME; PLAYING PEGS, EACH HAVING AN ENLARGED RELATIVELY LONG GENERALLY ROUNDED FINGER PORTION, A RELATIVELY SMALL AND SHORT TAPERED PERFORATION ENGAGING PORTION EXTENDING FROM AN END OF SAID FINGER PORTION, SAID EXTENDING PORTION BEING OF A LENGTH SUFFICIENT TO ENGAGE EDGES OF SAID PERFORATIONS TO RETAIN AND PEGS THEREIN FRICTIONALLY, AND A FACE ENGAGING SHOULDER ADJACENT THE JUNCTION OF THE FINGER AND ENGAGING PORTIONS, SAID SHOULDER BEING SPACED FROM SIDES OF SAID EXTENDING PORTION SUFFICIENTLY FOR PROVIDING A FULCRUM FOR ROTATING SAID PEG IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO THE AXIS THEREOF AROUND POINTS ON SAID FACES SPACED FROM THE PERFORATIONS THEREIN TO OVERCOME FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT OF SAID EXTENDING PORTIONS IN SAID PERFORATIONS TO DISENGAGE SAID PEGS FROM SAID PERFORATIONS UPON APPLICATION OF LATERAL FORCE UPON SAID FINGER PORTIONS OF SAID PEGS; AND A SCORING BOARD, A RESILIENT FACE SIDE OF SAID SCORING BOARD HVAING PERFORATIONS PHYSICALLY IDENTICAL TO THE PERFORATIONS IN SAID PLAYING BOARDS FOR RECEIVING AND RETAINING SAID EXTENDING PORTION OF SAID PEGS. 